Ohio State Football: Has Braxton Miller Reached His Ceiling?

Just four games into his freshman year, Braxton Miller had already captured the starting quarterback position and become the face of Ohio State football.

In his first three seasons, Miller guided the Buckeyes to a historic winning streak, broke numerous school records and captured back-to-back Silver Trophies, an award given to the Big Ten’s MVP.

But in 2014, Ohio State will need Miller to elevate his game to mask the loss of four starting offensive linemen, leading rusher Carlos Hyde and leading receiver Corey Brown.

Is that even possible, or has Miller reached his ceiling?

Of course, posing that question isn’t a knock on Miller’s abilities—it’s more of a compliment. The Buckeyes’ signal-caller piled up more than 3,000 total yards in two consecutive seasons, and in 2013, he paced the most prolific offense in Ohio State history.

Miller was so good during his junior season that he pondered an early jump to the NFL, telling Zack Meisel of The Plain Dealer that he was “definitely” ready for the next level.

“Just like I came from high school, coaches are going to get you mentally prepared, get you ready for it,” Miller said. “It’s just another step in life.”

After much deliberation, Miller decided he wasn’t ready for that next step. And despite his otherworldly talent and incredible accomplishments, there are still a number of areas where he could improve.